Recommended
Mountain Lunch: Ristorante Dantercepies
Après Ski: Luislkeller
Dinner: Suinsom
Non-skiers: Mardolomit (pool)
Best Off-piste: Sella Ronda
Best Ski Run: La Longia – The Long
Skiing
Ski Elevation: 1,236m – 2,518m
Pistes: 181km
40% Blue runs
51% Red runs
9% Black runs
Snowparks: 1
Airports
Bolzano (BZO):
50m / 47km
Innsbruck (INN):
1h 30m / 120km
Verona (VRN):
2h 10m / 194km
Selva Val Gardena Luxury Chalet
Despite its quaint Tyrolean appearance, there’s a stunning choice of sleek modern luxury ski chalets in Selva Val Gardena. Expect elegant design and awe-inspiring views from every direction.
FEATURES – Many of our luxury chalets in Selva Val Gardena come with excellent wellness facilities, including heated swimming pools, outdoor hot tubs, and infra-red saunas. With such beautiful views and endless sunny days, outdoor space is always a priority.
SIZE – We have chalets that fit parties from four to 12 guests. If your group is bigger, contact us and we’ll help you combine the best selection of properties to meet your needs.
CATERING – We have chalets offering catered, B&B, or self-catered accommodation. So, you can choose whether to sample the outstanding local cuisine in town or stay snuggled up while enjoying dinner from your private chef.
LOCATIONS – Luxury accommodation in Selva Val Gardena is close to the lifts, town, and slopes, making it a relaxing and convenient place to base yourself in the Dolomites.
Selva Val Gardena continues to grow in popularity every year. You’ll find that the best accommodation gets booked up early, so you should start your search early to avoid disappointment. Check out our selection of luxury ski chalets in Val Gardena below and start planning your magical winter escape.
Looking for inspiration? Take a look at our recommend luxury ski chalets in Selva Val Gardena…
Chalet Alpurio
With a chalet as fabulous as this, you might never want to go outside. A vast garden and sprawling balcony provide ample opportunities to take in the Dolomite scenery. While the 600m² living space is packed to the brim with state-of-the-art facilities. Grab a drink from the bar and curl up by the lavish fireplace or retreat to the plush cinema room. A billiards table, roulette wheel, and huge choice of games help to bring the group together. Or you can switch off from the world in the outdoor heated whirlpool.
Selva Val Gardena Chalet Collections
B&B chalets in Selva Val Gardena
Corporate chalets in Selva Val Gardena
Ski-in Ski out chalets in Selva Val Gardena
Selva Val Gardena chalets with hot-tubs
Catered chalets in Selva Val Gardena
Flagship chalets in Selva Val Gardena
Selva Val Gardena chalets with cinemas
Selva Val Gardena chalets with spa area
Selva Val Gardena chalets with saunas
Self-catered chalets in Selva Val Gardena
Large chalet in Selva Val Gardena
Selva Val Gardena chalets with gyms
Selva Val Gardena chalets with swimming pool
Selva Val Gardena
Selva Val Gardena is a true Italian delight. Wake up surrounded by glorious UNESCO scenery, bask in the sunshine while cruising through mountain panoramas, and spend cosy evenings strolling an adorable ski village.
The entire Val Gardena area is iconic for its outstanding Dolomite views. The world-famous Sassolungo and Sella Massif create a jagged alpine skyline across the three towns of Ortisei, Santa Cristina, and Selva. When you’re not gazing at the scenery, you’ll have direct access to one of Europe’s largest ski areas. The immense Dolomiti Superski encompasses 1,200km of varied piste, including the infamous Sellaronda circuit.
While all three towns in Val Gardena are dripping with charm, Selva is the highest and most beautiful of them all. With a mix of rich Italian and Tirolean heritage, the relaxed resort is picture-perfect for foodies, families, and anyone seeking an authentic mountain experience.
Ready to indulge all your senses? Browse our selection of the best luxury ski chalets in Selva Val Gardena to start planning your dreamy winter escape.
Selva Val Gardena Resort
Thanks to its unique landscape and rugged panoramic views, the area surrounding the Dolomites is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Val Gardena sits beneath the majestic silhouette of the 3,000m Sassolungo and the Sella Massif, a 6km plateau serving as the symbol of the Sellaronda circuit.
The 40km Sellaronda circuit should be on every skier’s bucket list, and Selva is the perfect starting point. With accommodation steps away from the slopes and high-speed modern lifts whisking you across the mountains, it’s achievable to complete the whole circuit in one day.
Once a part of Austria, Selva has maintained many of its distinct Tirolean influences. Traditional architecture frames dreamy views, laid-back apres ski bars, and a fabulous choice of restaurants.
Verbier Travel & Transport
While Selva Val Gardena is a sprawling resort, it’s easy to get around on foot. Regular buses link Selva, Ortisei, and Santa Cristina, and the ski lifts depart from all three centres. Once you’re on the slopes, you can cover the whole ski area without taking any buses.
Travelling by car
Val Gardena is easy to reach by car via the Brenner motorway. It’s one of the easiest resorts in the Dolomites to reach by car and it doesn’t require driving through any major mountain passes. If your luxury ski chalet in Val Gardena doesn’t include parking, you’ll find several parking options throughout the three villages.
Travelling by train
The closest train stations to Val Gardena are Bolzano, Ponte Gardena, Chiusa, and Bressanone. You’ll find plenty of direct train routes from major cities in Germany, Austria, and Italy. Why not combine your ski trip with a short city break? From the four train stations, you’ll either need to take a bus or arrange a transfer to the resort.
Airports
Bolzano is the closest airport to Val Gardena. However, airports like Innsbruck and Verona are more likely to offer a wider choice of international flights.
Bolzano (BZO) – 47km
By car – 50 minutes
By bus – 2 hours
Innsbruck (INN) – 120km
By car – 1 hour 30 minutes
By bus – 2 hours
Verona (VRN) – 194km
By car –Â 2 hours 10 minutes
By bus – 2 hours 15 minutes
Transfer
There are a range of transfer options into Val Gardena, including shuttles, taxis, and helicopter services. There’s a heliport in the Pontives, right at the entrance to Val Gardena.
Selva Val Gardena Restaurants
Val Gardena is a dream for food lovers, with a huge choice of gourmet eateries and four Michelin-star restaurants. Not to mention the array of cosy pizzerias spread across the valley. Warm your soul with hearty Austrian and Italian fare or grace one of the glamorous restaurants inside the 5-star hotels.
In the town
You’ll have no trouble finding an excellent restaurant just steps away from your Selva Val Gardena ski chalet. Alpenroyal Gourmet offers a lavish Michelin-star experience. With a focus on Ladin and Mediterranean dishes, the head chef is a master of alpine flavour. From delicate seafood to rich ravioli, every dish is a feast for the eyes and stomach. Ristorante Suinsom is the newest restaurant in Selva to boast a Michelin star, thanks to its focus on authentic flavours and sensory experiences. Its historic rooms dating back to the 18th century are styled as a traditional Laden Stube, where you can sample elegant local dishes with artistic flair.
Nives is a great choice for a romantic meal, with rustic-chic décor, sophisticated South Tyrolean fare and homemade pasta. Or snuggle up in the cabin at Bellavista where you can tuck into the heartiest of Italian plates. For something more laid back, you could hang out in Rino, a simple pizzeria with a cosy atmosphere and al fresco dining.
On the slopes
What could be dreamier than warming up from a day’s skiing with an indulgent lunch in a traditional mountain hut? With endless options for your on-slope meal and glorious Dolomite views, you can live out your Italian alpine fantasy every day of your trip.
It’s hard to say what is better at Mont Seuc, the tasty regional dishes or the sprawling views of the Sassolungo peaks. Resting at 2,000m, you can warm up in the stylish dining room or laze on a luxurious lounger in the afternoon sun. The Emilio-Comici-Hütte goes one step further, with its charming restaurant at 2,154m. Popular for their seafood and their aperos, it’s a spectacular way to end a day on the piste. But when it comes to maximising the view, Dantercepies takes the prize. Stube style décor frames floor-to-ceiling windows and 2,300m views.
Selva Val Gardena Apres & Nightlife
A vibrant and authentic atmosphere makes Selva a great base for a few drinks after a day on the slopes. It lacks the wild nightlife scene of many similar Italian resorts. But if you’re looking for a lively spot to mingle with some fellow skiers, you’ll have plenty of venues to choose from.
With an average of 300 sunny days a year, apres ski in Val Gardena always makes the most of the sunshine:
- Before your final run of the day, stop by Piz Seteur for some live music, glorious views, and afternoon shenanigans.
- La Stua is one of the trendier spots in Selva. You can sample a warming bombadino inside the warm wooden farmhouse, get rowdy with live music on the terrace, or laze by the fireplace on the first-floor champagne bar.
- The cosy Kronestube is a warm and friendly spot for your post-slope pint. It has a huge choice of beer taps and regular live music events.
If you don’t want to head back to your Selva Val Gardena luxury accommodation, you have plenty of options to continue your night:
- Lius Keller is the ultimate place to party. This basement bar has been around for 40 years and is infamous for its raucous parties.
- A popular spot with the local instructors, Bar Saltos starts out with relaxed drinks on the terrace and gets progressively livelier until 1 am. Live music, theme nights, and speck parties keep things interesting throughout the week.
- For a stylish cocktail, Yellos Music Lounge Bar has comfy sofas, chilled-out music, and excellent drinks.
Selva Val Gardena Ski Area
Huge sunny pistes and an endless ski area make skiing around Val Gardena a joy. The valley is famous for hosting world-class sports events including the Alpine World Cup. Dolomiti has put huge investment into their infrastructure, so you can enjoy fast and modern lifts with wonderful features like heated seats. The slopes back into Selva spread down both sides of the valley, where pretty tree-lined runs guide you home.
The ski area
Staying in Selva gives you seamless access to the Dolomiti Superski area, where over 1,246km of slopes await you. Val Gardena is the biggest resort in the area, with 175km of piste and altitudes up to 2,518m. An efficient lift system means minimal queues, so you’ll be whisked across the mountain in minutes.
From Selva, you’ll have direct access to two ski areas:
- Via the Dantercepies gondola you’ll reach the Dantercepies sector. There’s a dreamy combination of long red runs. It also has some options for beginner and advanced skiers and is an access point to start the Sella Ronda circuit.
- Via the Ciampinoi gondola you’ll reach the Ciampinoi sector. It’s home to some challenging red and black runs. From here you can move on to Plan de Gralba, Santa Cristina, Seceda, Ortisei, and Alpe di Suisi.
Boarders
Snowboarders in Val Gardena will appreciate the lack of drag lifts and cat tracks, although you’ll want to get to know the flat areas so you can maintain your speed. Beginner boarders may get tired of the drag lifts in the nursery area below Dantercepies, but there is plenty over in Ortesei to keep them happy. Signposting in Val Gardena can be confusing, so make sure you follow directions carefully to avoid biting off more than you can chew.
If you’re an intermediate snowboarder, you’ll be in your element in Val Gardena. Wide blue and red pistes are one of the highlights of the ski area. The 10.5km La Longia is a red run bound to get your legs burning. If you’re up for a challenge, you can take on the Sella Ronda circuit, suitable for any snowboarder confident on a red run. Want to get off the beaten path? Hire a guide and check out areas like Passo Pordoi.
Freestylers will find over 24 parks across the area, but Alpe di Suisi is the best. The 2km park has over 40 obstacles, including rails, kickers, and boxes, divided by ability. You’ll also find lots of natural hits to play with throughout the Val Gardena area.
Beginners
The area below Dantercepies is the ideal place for new skiers to master their skills. An emporium of drag lifts and magic carpets sits just below the gondola, making it easy to access from the centre of town. You’ll find a huge choice of ski schools here and a welcoming atmosphere to help you take your first snow steps. Once you’ve got the basics nailed, Plan de Gralba is the next logical step, where you’ll find a great network of gentle blues.
There are two registered ski schools in Selva:
- Scuola Sci Selva is the first and largest ski school in Selva Val Gardena. They offer private and group lessons in a range of snow sports disciplines for children and adults.
- Ski and Snowboard School 2000 offers lessons in a wide variety of disciplines for all ages.
Intermediates
With almost 90% of the runs in Val Gardena marked as red or blue, intermediate skiers in Val Gardena are in for a fantastic week. Find your feet again with the long blues in Seceda and Alpe di Suisi before getting stuck into the reds in Ciampinoi. Wrap up the day by taking the long red route down from Passo Gardena to the base of the Datercepies lift. It’s an excellent way to get your legs burning.
If you’re keen for an adventure, make sure you take on the world-famous Sella Ronda circuit, which stops right in Selva. The 40km route circles around the 6km Sella Massif, giving you the ultimate tour of the Dolomiti Superski area. During the day, you’ll venture across four different passes and four Ladin Valleys. It takes around 4 hours to complete without any stops, so the general advice is to make the first lift on the circuit by 10 am.
Advanced
Expert skiers will find plenty to challenge them in Val Gardena, from short, steep and technical to long and gruelling. To get the most out of your time in the Dolomites, why not attempt to tick off all of the Legendary 8? These are a mix of red and black runs that obtained iconic status thanks to their beauty, history, and exhilaration.
Follow in the tracks of the greats at the Saslong slope. The FIS Alpine World Cup terrain is famous for being some of the trickiest to master, with hair-raising steep sections and some natural rollers. You’ll find some challenging black runs around Ciampinoi, with the most difficult being The Steep. Its name doesn’t lie as this slope has an average gradient of 29.67 %!
While not renowned for its backcountry, Val Gardena serves up some exquisite off-piste opportunities. You’ll find the most epic powder around Forcella Mezdi, Val Lasties, and Forcella del Pordoi. But to really get the most out of the Dolomite backcountry, we recommend hiring a guide for at least one day of your trip.
Weather
Val Gardena has an excellent snow record and even better snow machines. But with almost every day a bluebird, the highlight is cruising down pristine slopes in the sunshine. The lifts start in early December and are often open until early April.
December
December is a beautiful time to be in Val Gardena, with twinkling lights in Selva and a traditional Christmas market in Ortisei.
Average snowfall: 44cm
Snow days: 4
January
As the winter festivities wind down, the snow ramps up, making January an excellent month to visit.
Average snowfall: 80cm
Snow days: 5
February
One of the highlights of February is the carnival, when the villages come alive with masked parades, vibrant processions, and live entertainment.
Average snowfall: 84cm
Snow days: 6
March
As the weather warms up, the slopes might need some topping up from the snow machines. This is a big month for music festivals and parties, making it one of the best times to visit Val Gardena for apres ski.
Average snowfall: 40cm
Snow days: 3
Things To Do In Selva Val Gardena
Many of the non-skiing activities in Val Gardena revolve around making the most of the stunning scenery. Many of the gondolas have pedestrian access, making it easy for non-skiers to experience the magic of the Dolomites while they meet the rest of their group for lunch. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also popular winter activities in Val Gardena.
Spend your days exploring the three charming towns of Selva, Ortisei, and Santa Cristina, all linked by regular buses. Ortisei has a pretty pedestrian centre, with lots of adorable bars and restaurants. The aquatic centre and climbing wall offer good alternatives for bad weather days. Santa Cristina has a more traditional feel, with pretty churches and a natural ice rink.
If you’d prefer to stay in Selva, you’ll find lots to keep you busy, including a large skating rink, bowling alley, and tennis courts. Or laze away a day with an indulgent cake and hot chocolate at Café Mozart.
Our luxury Selva Val Gardena Chalets blog covers a wide range of topics: the latest luxury rental properties in Selva Val Gardena, local news, snow conditions, new and top rated restaurants and bars, best rental shops, spa’s and swimming pools, top 5’s and of course, Ski Chalets in Selva Val Gardena!